Rotatable apparatus,more particularly a rotatable kiln,for the treatment of materials



Sept. 23, 1969 BQVAGNE 3,468,522

ROTATABLE APPARATUS, MORE PARTICULARLY A ROTATABLE KILN, FOR THE TREATMENT OF MATERIALS Filed Nov. 8, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Figd Sept. 23, 1969 R. BOVAGNE 3,468,522 ROTATABLE APPARATUS, MORE PARTICULARLY A ROTATABLE KILN, FOR THE TREATMENT OF MATERIALS Filed Nov. 8, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 E i L k is; i \U\ United States Patent ROTATABLE APPARATUS, MORE PARTICULARLY A ROTATABLE KILN, FOR THE TREATMENT OF MATERIALS Ren Bovagne, 2 Rue Jules Chevrier, Chalon-sur-Saone,

Saone-et-Loire, France Filed Nov. 8, 1967, Ser. No. 681,484 Claims priority, application France, Dec. 5, 1966, 86,194 Int. Cl. F27b 7/22 US. Cl. 263-33 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A rotatable apparatus, more particularly a rotatable kiln, for the treatment of materials, comprising an enclosure rotatable around an axis which is substantially horizontal or at a slight inclination to the horizontal, a support, and rolling means between the support and the enclosure, characterised in that the apparatus comprises: an outer band borne by, and perpendicular to the axis of, the enclosure, and at least one roller whose surface has a shape of revolution, and/ or each roller being in contact with the band flank, being disposed on the support and having its axis extending towards the axis of rotation of the enclosure. Means are provided to reciprocate the roller in a direction extending through the enclosure axis.

This invention relates to a rotating apparatus for the treatment of materials, e.g., a tubular kiln in which materials are heated.

Apparatuses of this kind, more particularly rotating kilns, usually rest on running rings which are secured to the enclosure and which run on hearing rollers. The latter and the rings experience heavy pressures causing the running surface to wear. It is therefore of course a good idea to reciprocate the enclosure so as to change the surface via which the rings bear on the rollers and thus distribute the wear over this bearing surface of the rollers and reduce grooving.

In the case of kilns which are slightly inclined to the horizontal, it is known for the bearing rollers to be skewed relatively to the kiln axis, the kiln therefore moving helically on the roller and thus slowly rising, whereafter a periodic lubrication of the rollers causes the kiln to descend. Continuous attention by staff is necessary for this system. It is also known to reciprocate a kiln by means of a stop roller mounted on a deformable parallelogram. This system is relatively bulky and, because of the considerable weight of the kiln, the parallelogram pivots experience considerable forces which may cause rapid wear.

The invention obviates these disadvantages and enables the kiln to be reciprocated axially by means of simple and rugged means.

According to the invention, a rotating apparatus comprising an enclosure rotating around an axis which is substantially horizontal or at a slight inclination to the horizontal, a support, and rolling means between the support and the enclosure, is characterised in that the apparatus comprises: an outer band borne by, and perpendicular to the axis of, the enclosure; and at least one roller whose surface has a shape of revolution, the roller being in contact with the band flank and being disposed on the support and having its axis extending towards the axis of rotation of the enclosure, means being provided to reciprocate the rollers in a direction extending through the enclosure axis.

The invention will be described hereinafter with reference to an exemplary embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

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FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the overall organisation of the apparatus, and

FIGURE 2 is a cross-section on the line II-II of FIGURE 1.

An enclosure 1 rotates around an axis disposed at a slight inclination to the horizontal. A toothed drive ring 2 meshing with a pinion (not shown) rotates the enclosure 1. The same is borne by bands 3 resting on bearing rollers 4, 5. A frusto-conical roller 6 bears against the flank of one of the bands 3 downstream thereof and is disposed on a shaft 7 sliding in a guide 8 whose bottom part forms a ram casing. The axis of shaft 7 intersects the axis of rotation of the enclosure 1; the band flank presented to the roller 6 is in shape frusto-conical so that the line contact between the band 3 and roller 6 is along a generatrix. The ram can impart to the roller a force suflicient to raise the enclosure on the roller during the rotation thereof.

A motor and pump set 9 mounted on an oil pan 10 delivers pressure fluid to the ram and the movements thereof are controlled by an electro-valve 11. The pulses of the hydraulic circuit are controlled by a timer 12. Two reversers 13, 14 disposed one on either side of the band 3 limit the travel of the enclosure 1 by action on the valve 11.

Two warning lights 15 in the control room indicate kiln movements and enable the movements of the complete system to be checked.

A non-return valve 16 prevents collapse of the ram in the event of the hydraulic circuit stopping. The rate of descent of the enclosure can be controlled by a needle valve 17 in the ram discharge circuit. The ram inlet pressure can be controlled by a manostat 18. A small emergency stop roller 19 is disposed upstream of the band 3 to limit the rising movement of the kiln should the need arrse.

The operation of the apparatus will now be described.

The timer 12 periodically starts the motor 9 which pressurises the oil circuit. A valve 20 controls the rate of flow and pressure is controlled by the manostat 18, excess oil returning to the pan 10. Ram piston 21 rises and moves the roller 6 which, since the contact surface is conical, moves the enclosure 1 upwards parallel to its axis. The upwards movement continues until the band 3 contacts the reverser 14, which de-energises winding 22. A spring 23 returns the valve 11. Supply line 24 is therefore interrupted and circuit 25 is connected to discharge line 26. Since the pressure ceases to be maintained, the enclosure 1 tends to drop by its own weight and forces down the piston 21. Oil discharges through line 26. The rate of descent of the piston 21, and therefore of the enclosure 1, is controlled by action on the needle valve 17.

The enclosure 1 moves axially until band 3 contacts reverser 13. The same re-energises winding 22 which changes over the valve 11. Circuit 25 is re-connected to supply line 24, and piston 21 rises and raises roller 6 which again moves the enclosure 1 upwards. This reciprocation continues until the timer 12 stops the motor 9.

The valve 16 prevents the oil from returning to the pan 10, and the piston 21 stays in the position in which it is at the time when the motor stops.

The movement can be adjusted by adjustment of the timer and of the position of the reversers 13, 14.

The apparatus comprises two safety systems, one in the form of an oil return line 27 to the pan 10, limiting the rise of the piston 21 in the cylinder 8, and the second in the form of the emergency stop roller 19 which limits the rising movement of the enclosure 1.

The apparatus hereinbefore described comprises an inclined enclosure such as is found e.g., in a cement kiln. The invention is not of course limited to this special case and is of use in all cases where there are rotating enclosures having a substantially horizontal axis, the return movement being produced by a counterweight or by a second roller producing a reverse movement or by any other similar system.

Preferably, the roller is in shape frusto-conical but a shape of any other surface of revolution is possible. Although only a single roller is shown, the ram having sufficient thrust to move the enclosure, a number of rollers acting on one or more bands can be used without departure from the scope of the invention. Similarly, the means used to produce a reciprocating drive of the roller are given only by way of example and any other drive and reversal system can be used.

I claim:

1. A rotatable apparatus, more particularly a rotatable kiln, for the treatment of materials, comprising an enclosure rotatable about an axis which is substantially horizontal or at a slight inclination to the horizontal, a support, rolling means between the support and the enclosure, an outer band borne by and perpendicular to the axis of the enclosure; at least one roller whose surface has a shape of revolution, the roller being in contact with the band flank, a shaft support for the roller mounted on the movable element of a lifting ram, the ram being mounted on the support and having its axis extending through the axis of rotation of the enclosure, and means for actuating the ram and reciprocating the roller.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, the roller having a frusto-conical shape of revolution.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, the band flank having a frusto-conical portion in contact with the roller along a generatrix of the frusto-conical portion.

4-. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, the ram being supplied by a pump via an electro-valve.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4, a timer being provided controlling operation of the pump.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 including two reversers placed on either side of the band to limit axial movement of the enclosure, roller movement being reversed by electric circuits disposed between the reversers and the electro-valve.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including a needle valve in the oil exit from the ram controlling the rate of descent of the kiln along its axis when the ram descends.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,819,130 1/1958 Kaminsky 26333 X 3,027,553 3/1962 Sandor 26333 X JOHN J. CAMBY, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 308234 

